Alabama at Villanova College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/17/2018

Saturday, March 17, 2018

PPG Paints Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Alabama Crimson Tide travel to PPG Paints Arena to play the Villanova Wildcats on Saturday, March 17, 2018. The opening line for this game has Villanova as 10.5 point favorites.

Alabama heads into this matchup with a mark of 20-15. They currently have a point differential of 2.4 as they are averaging 72.7 points per contest while giving up 70.3 per game. Villanova has an overall record of 31-4. They are averaging 87.1 points per game and surrendering 70.6, good for a point differential of 16.5.

Valuable Alabama Crimson Tide Betting Trends

The Alabama Crimson Tide are 18-15 against the spread this season

The Alabama Crimson Tide are 10-20 against the over/under this year

Important Villanova Wildcats Betting Trends

The Villanova Wildcats are 22-12 against the spread this season

The Villanova Wildcats are 21-10 against the over/under this year

Key Alabama Crimson Tide Injuries

03/15/18 G Ar'Mond Davis Knee is out for season
01/01/18 G Riley Norris Hip is out for season

Key Villanova Wildcats Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Collin Sexton averages 19.2 points per game while playing 29.9 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.8 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.6 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 54% while his free throw percentage is at 78%. Donta Hall averages 10.9 points per game in 23.9 minutes per contest this season. He averages 0.6 assists per contest and 6.7 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 73% for the year while his free throw percentage is 56%.

Player Spotlight

Jalen Brunson averages 19.3 points per game while playing 31.8 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3.1 rebounds per game and has 4.7 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 54% and his free throw percentage is at 80%. Mikal Bridges averages 17.9 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.4 rebounds per contest and 2.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 52% and his free throw percentage is 85%.

Useful Team Statistics

Alabama averages 72.7 points per contest this season, which ranks them 206th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 2.4 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 94th. Behind the arc they shoot 33%, which is good for 292nd in the country. They average 35.9 rebounds per game and 12.7 assists per game, which ranks them 140th and 245th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 58th with 14.2 per game. The Crimson Tide allow 70.3 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 123rd in Division 1. They also allow a 42% shooting percentage and a 32% average from behind the arc, ranking them 52nd and 35th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 35.5 rebounds a game which ranks 213th and they give up 11.7 assists per contest, which puts them in 57th place in college basketball. They force 13.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 193rd in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Villanova is 1st in the country with 87.1 points per game this year. They are 3rd in D-1 in shooting at 51%, while their average scoring margin is 16.5. They shoot 40% from 3-point range, which is good for 14th in college basketball. They are 172nd in the nation in rebounding with 35.5 boards per game, and 15th in assists per contest with 16.8. The Wildcats are 339th in turnovers per game with 10.4. The Wildcats surrender 70.6 points per contest, which ranks them 129th in the country. Their defense allows a 43% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 134th and 61st in those defensive statistics. They rank 222nd with 13.9 assists allowed per contest and 62nd with 32.6 rebounds surrendered per game. The Wildcats are 183rd in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 13.1 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Crimson Tide are 211th in the nation in offensive rating with 103.5, and their defensive rating of 100 is ranked 92nd. In terms of pace they are 131st in the country with 70.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 142nd. As a team they are 134th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 221st in Division 1. Alabama is 56th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 48%, which is 42nd in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Villanova is 342nd in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 92nd in Division 1. The Wildcats are 87th in the nation in defensive rating with 99.7, and their offensive rating of 123 is ranked 1st. They are 148th in D-1 in pace with 70.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 60% is 2nd. As a unit they are 2nd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 63% and they shoot 3-pointers on 47% of their shot attempts, ranking 17th in the country.

Who will win tonight's Alabama/Villanova college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Villanova -10.5

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